I have been open for 5 years and still struggle with the "perfect" organization solution. I'm looking for ideas on storing craft supplies, preschool supplies, etc. I would like ideas that would help me condense supplies down or help to make the days easier when it comes to finding the supplies needed for the day. I'm a very organized person, but this is one thing that I've always struggled with, so any ideas or pictures would be great!

I have old dressers and shelves in my garage. I made a big U shape out of all of them, so I use half of the garage for storage/organization and the other half is a workout area. The dressers create a wall between the two area.

In the dressers I have put recycled carboard boxes as dividers and they hold all of my small art/craft/misc pieces. I also have some drawers without boxes for larger paper supplies, etc.

On the shelves, I use clear rubbermaid totes and clear rubbermaid shoe boxes for materials organized and label the front of them so I can see what each box holds. Each shelf holds materials for different spaces: Math/Science, Dramatic PLay, etc.

I have been open for 5 years and still struggle with the "perfect" organization solution. I'm looking for ideas on storing craft supplies, preschool supplies, etc. I would like ideas that would help me condense supplies down or help to make the days easier when it comes to finding the supplies needed for the day. I'm a very organized person, but this is one thing that I've always struggled with, so any ideas or pictures would be great!

I don't have a perfect solution but what I use is a closet in my dining room. I put tall shelving units in it and use transparant storage bins ranging in sizes. This is where I store all of our arts and crafts (paints, papers, stencils, scissors etc) as well as things like moon sand, playdoh, etc in the larger totes on the bottom shelf. Even all of the holiday cookie cutters have their own bin. This way it's out of sight as well as out of reach of the children.

I really appreciate the ideas, now I'm curious as how you organize the supplies together to make it so the organizing stay simple. For example; scissors & glue together, paints and brushes, etc. Any ideas like that would be super helpful! Thanks!

I hate clutter and I find myself in the same boat as you. I love things to be easy to put away and find.

I think that totes and storage boxes with locking lids have been my saving grace. I have also use yogurt containers 32oz to store a lot of my supplies in and then place high on the shelf where the kids cant reach them. I store things like sicssors, tweezers, beans, beads, clothes pins, and anything small in the yog. containers.

i have also taken a pic of the toys and placed the pic on the shelf where it belongs so that the kids know where to return the items they used. Covering the pic with contact paper was great and cheap.

The issue that I have is storing my books and paper supplies for my teaching. LOL When someone has a good plan let me know how they store their curriculum papers/ cutouts

The issue that I have is storing my books and paper supplies for my teaching. LOL When someone has a good plan let me know how they store their curriculum papers/ cutouts

I used Funshine Express for years and saved the curriculum guides and 1 copy of all the little extras (calendar pieces, topic cards, etc). I slip them into gallon sized zip lock bags along with the curriculum guide and I store them upright in cardboard magazine files labeled by the month; this has worked out best for me because I find that I have a tendancy to do the same themes around the same time each year. I also use three ring binders and sheet protectors to store master copies of the work/coloring/activity sheets or things that I print off the internet. Then I just make copies of what I need as I need it. This along with the various curriculum books I have collected over the years are all on a bookcase in my office/storage room.

I also use clear bins for theme/holiday type items like puzzles, books, games, etc. that I use each year. Fire Safety, Dinosaurs, Butterflies/Bugs, Spring/Easter, Valentines Day, St Patricks Day/MardiGras, etc. I am a huge 'after the holiday clearance' shopper, so that helps me stay organized and remember what I have the next year because I put it in the bin right away and put it on the shelf. My office/storage/infant nap room is floor to ceiling shelving and bookcases with three porta cribs in the center. It's outfitted with a large assortment of sterilite bins and drawers in all shapes and sizes. All labeled because everything has its place. Even my books are divided by subject

For day to day art supplies, I have drawers on shelves that the kids that are old enough can reach. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, punches, glue sticks, paper scraps, magazines, misc left over art stuff, all have their own drawer. They just grab the drawer and bring to the table. Coloring books are in a magazine file; construction papers they have to ask for, but those are filed in cardboard magazine files on their side by color so they can pick what they want. The kids call it the rainbow shelf, lol.

Wow. After proof reading this, I sound kind of OCD...but it's what keeps my sanity on a daily basis, know where everything is and being able to grab it at a moments notice makes the day go much more smoothly.